Definition
瘫 (tān) is a colloquial verb meaning 'to be paralyzed' (of a body part) or, as a complement after 累, 'exhausted to the point of collapse'. Unlike 瘫痪 (tān huàn), which is the formal medical term for paralysis and also used figuratively for systems (e.g., traffic paralysis), 瘫 is more common in everyday speech for physical collapse. 麻痹 (má bì) refers to numbness or complacency, not the same type of paralysis.
verb
to be paralyzed (of a body part)(colloquial) to be exhausted to the point of collapse (as a complement after 累)
Easily confused
- 摊tānlook-alike(verb) to spread out, to unfold
- 谈tánsound-aliketo talk; to discuss
- 探tànsound-aliketo explore; to scout; to reconnoiter
- 弹tánsound-aliketo play (a stringed or keyboard instrument) by pressing or plucking
- 痰tánsound-alikephlegm
- 贪tānsound-alike(verb) to covet, to be greedy for (e.g., money, pleasure)
- 炭tànsound-alikecharcoal (wood charcoal)
- 坛tánsound-alike(noun) platform, rostrum, podium
Examples
- ，瘫。Tā yīnwèi shēngbìng, yòutuǐ tān le.He became paralyzed in his right leg due to illness.
- ，瘫。Wǒ zuótiān pǎo le shí gōnglǐ, lèi tān le.I ran ten kilometers yesterday and was dead tired.
- 瘫。Zhè zhǒng bìng huì dǎozhì quánshēn dōu tān le.This disease can cause the whole body to become paralyzed.
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